Improvement in ratchet-head and leyer



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Letters Patent'No. 75,090, dated March 3, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN RATGHET-HEAD AND LEVER.

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Be it known that I, T. A.' WESTON, ofthe city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie, and State of New York,

. have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Ratchet-Levers or Heads; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part 'o f this specication. f l

Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved device.

Figure Vf2., a central vertical section.

Figure 3, a plan with the ratchet-head removed, showing the pawl-barrel.

Figure 4, a plan of .the under end of the ratchet-head.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

I embody in this improvement my differential principle of teeth and pawls, viz, the use of an unequal relative number oi' large teeth and pawls, whereby I am enabled to attain the same nicety of adjustment as is attained bythe use oi) ne teeth, which, by their rapidvear, soon become useless. I do not claim this principle in this present application, but my invention consists in the special construction and arrangement ofthe device containing these'parts, whereby'this principle is made eieetive.

In the drawings, A indicates the pawl-barrel, which is made hollow, and has two ears or lugs, a a, between which is pvoted the end of the lever B, so as to turn upward or downward, as indicated by red lines. In-the rim of the pawl-barrel is arranged a series of pawls Z1 b, which are pressed forward by springs ff, to engage with teeth c c, formed on the face oi'a ratchet-head, C, fig. 4. rlhis ratchet-head is secured fast by any suitable means-to the feed-screw D, that shown in the drawing being a pin, cl, passing through both parts. The screw D, not`only forms the feed-screw, but it also serves as the nozzle or socket to receive lthe head or end of the article which is to be acted on. To this end it has a smoothlbody, g, which rests and turns in the centre or opening of the pawl-barrel, and has a flanged head, t, which abuts the lower end of the pawl-barrel, and -the nozzle or socket z' is made -in the head. iA thin washer or ring, 7c, is fastened in a groovei the head, and held by a pin, of the pawl-barrel, so as to form a rest for the springs and pawls as the screw is revolved.

The relative number ofthe teeth and the pawls is unequal ;A that is, the-teeth are one more or one less in number than the pawls. By this arrangement, the pawls do .not all engage with the teeth simultaneously, but

rather in succession, so that in passing the space of a single tooth, the pawls all engage one after another, thus insuring as'nicean adjustment as where a large number of fine teeth are employed with a single pawl, while the great wear and slight contact of small teeth'are avoided.

By this arrangement ofthe device, holding these engaging parts, `it is particularly adapted as a feedingratchet to the work to be accomplished. The screw D being made in a single piece, and answering the threefold purpose ofi'eeding the ratchet forward, of serving as a bearing for the pawl-barrehand as a nozzle for the article to be acted upon, insures great strength with simplicity of action. The ratchet is moved` downward as fast as the. cut is made, and by its own action. The ratchet-head is firmly and securely held in place between the two shoulders, t (Leo-that' there can be no irregularity of movement, and the action of the pawls is free and unrestrained. These parts are alhof regular form, so that they may be easily turned in the lathe, or 0ther wise'dress'ed, which requires but little work. 'Ihe washer 7c, which serves as the rest for the springs j', being` held by pin Zfrom turning with the screw-head it, retains said springs from injury, which might occur were they to come directly in contactvwith the screw-head.

Beside these advantages, the jointing of the lever at the point a a, enables the same to be raised or lowered at pleasure, as indicated by red lines, so that the ratchet. may itself be worked in an inconvenient place, for instance, in a narrow inclined space, or over any obstruction which stands in the way; or, if desired, the pivot itself may be removed, and the end of the lever maybe inserted through the pivot-holes halt` way, and Aserve' as a double-acting lever for two persons.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isf v 1. In a ratchet-lever, with a series of differential teeth and pawls Z7 c, as described, I claim theconstruc tion and arrangement of parts as herein set forth, consisting of the feed-screw D, socket z', the barrel A, turning thereon, and operated by lever B, the ratchet-head C, secured to the screwby the pinfd and the wahe'r c. for retaining the springs in place, the whole operating in the manner and for the purpose specified..

2. I'also claim the jointed lever B, in combination with the devices thus consti-aerei'.substantially as set forth. y

In witness whereof, I have .hereunto signed rny name in thepresence of twosubscrbing witnesses.v

T. A. WESTON.

Witnesses JAY HYATT, ALBERT HAIGBT. 

